Dining help, can't decide!

[mwilliamson]

I would love some advice or thoughts on our dining. This is a big trip for us, we usually only do Disneyland and likely won't be back for at least a few years. We enjoy fine dining and higher quality food. I know it is a Theme Park so I keep that in mind, but try and find the best options I've struggled reading reviews because so many say things have changed from pre to post covid.

We are staying at the Yacht Club, club level the first 2 nights so we will likely take advantage of the food available there as much as possible, but I'm wondering if we need to supplement with some quick service or appetizers somewhere if the evening snacks aren't enough for an actual meal. Then moving to the Grand Floridian for 6 nights.

Thursday - Epcot quick service to go along with the Club level offerings? We will be at Typhoon Lagoon during that day. Any recommendations?
Friday - Club level snacks and Beaches and Cream for dessert
Saturday (The one I really can't decide) - Boathouse or Cinderella Royal Table - I feel confident we would enjoy our meal at Boathouse, but I'm wondering if the experience at Cinderella Royal Table is worth it this once. My kids are both 9 and getting on the older end for Characters, but do still enjoy them. I'm a huge Disney fan and feel like it would be special to eat in the Castle this once, but does it justify the cost?? Plus people have said to avoid Disney Springs on a Saturday night.
Sunday (MK day) - Skipper Canteen for lunch and Wailulu for dinner
Monday (Epcot day) - Shiki Sai for dinner
Tuesday (resort day) - 1900 Park Fare for brunch, Dinner?, Fireworks Pre-Party
Wednesday (Animal Kingdom) - Satuli Canteen lunch, Narcossee's for dinner
Thursday (Hollywood Studios) - Cake Bake at 2pm for a special drink and shared dessert, Kona Cafe for dinner
Friday - Topolino's breakfast

Thank you to anyone willing to take the time to help!

 

[gottalovepluto]

When at YC I would supplement CL dinner with lounges at Swolphin if still hungry or even if just looking for a nicer quality drink, there are a few nice restaurants there and it’s just a stroll or boat ride away from YC. The food will be better quality than any EP QS.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

I would love some advice or thoughts on our dining. This is a big trip for us, we usually only do Disneyland and likely won't be back for at least a few years. We enjoy fine dining and higher quality food. I know it is a Theme Park so I keep that in mind, but try and find the best options I've struggled reading reviews because so many say things have changed from pre to post covid.

We are staying at the Yacht Club, club level the first 2 nights so we will likely take advantage of the food available there as much as possible, but I'm wondering if we need to supplement with some quick service or appetizers somewhere if the evening snacks aren't enough for an actual meal. Then moving to the Grand Floridian for 6 nights.

Thursday - Epcot quick service to go along with the Club level offerings? We will be at Typhoon Lagoon during that day. Any recommendations?
Friday - Club level snacks and Beaches and Cream for dessert
Saturday (The one I really can't decide) - Boathouse or Cinderella Royal Table - I feel confident we would enjoy our meal at Boathouse, but I'm wondering if the experience at Cinderella Royal Table is worth it this once. My kids are both 9 and getting on the older end for Characters, but do still enjoy them. I'm a huge Disney fan and feel like it would be special to eat in the Castle this once, but does it justify the cost?? Plus people have said to avoid Disney Springs on a Saturday night.
Sunday (MK day) - Skipper Canteen for lunch and Wailulu for dinner
Monday (Epcot day) - Shiki Sai for dinner
Tuesday (resort day) - 1900 Park Fare for brunch, Dinner?, Fireworks Pre-Party
Wednesday (Animal Kingdom) - Satuli Canteen lunch, Narcossee's for dinner
Thursday (Hollywood Studios) - Cake Bake at 2pm for a special drink and shared dessert, Kona Cafe for dinner
Friday - Topolino's breakfast

Thank you to anyone willing to take the time to help!

Boathouse food is excellent, CRT is just good. However, I would definitely do CRT with the ages of the kids. We just did CRT with a 7 year old girl and it was the highlight of her trip. It is a must-do at least once IMO.

 

[mwilliamson]

When at YC I would supplement CL dinner with lounges at Swolphin if still hungry or even if just looking for a nicer quality drink, there are a few nice restaurants there and it’s just a stroll or boat ride away from YC. The food will be better quality than any EP QS.

Do you have a favorite lounge there?

 

[mwilliamson]

Boathouse food is excellent, CRT is just good. However, I would definitely do CRT with the ages of the kids. We just did CRT with a 7 year old girl and it was the highlight of her trip. It is a must-do at least once IMO.

That is what I keep thinking, that they will be so excited to eat IN the castle...so hard to justify that price though!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Do you have a favorite lounge there?

Il Mulino is my fave but with a fam of 4 the setup at bluezoo Lounge might be easier to get 4 together. Although in all honesty I doubt you’ll need the backup, BC/YC CLs tend to have appetizers on the heavier side. If you check the CL thread you can search and see YC’s CL recent offerings. Fun thing about WDW CL is you will have access until the club closes on your check-out day (GCH cut off CL access at check-out last time I was there )

That is what I keep thinking, that they will be so excited to eat IN the castle...so hard to justify that price though!

Eating inside the castle is like eating at Blue Bayou, you’re paying for the atmosphere and experience.

 

[Genie+]

Thursday - Epcot quick service to go along with the Club level offerings? We will be at Typhoon Lagoon during that day. Any recommendations?

What month is your trip? You can take a look at the food booth menus and see which are closest to Int’l Gateway. Otherwise I highly recommend Les Halles bakery in France. It’s not far from Beach/Yacht Club and the food is GOOD! Very reasonably priced as well.

Friday - Club level snacks and Beaches and Cream for dessert

Sounds Good. If need be, you can check out the pool bar menus as well. We’ve been pleasantly surprised many times.

Saturday (The one I really can't decide) - Boathouse or Cinderella Royal Table - I feel confident we would enjoy our meal at Boathouse, but I'm wondering if the experience at Cinderella Royal Table is worth it this once. My kids are both 9 and getting on the older end for Characters, but do still enjoy them. I'm a huge Disney fan and feel like it would be special to eat in the Castle this once, but does it justify the cost?? Plus people have said to avoid Disney Springs on a Saturday night.

CRT. And I see others saying the same lol. It’s fun and something you can’t turn back the clock as the kids age. Boathouse will still be there for the future.

Sunday (MK day) - Skipper Canteen for lunch and Wailulu for dinner
Monday (Epcot day) - Shiki Sai for dinner
Tuesday (resort day) - 1900 Park Fare for brunch, Dinner?, Fireworks Pre-Party
Wednesday (Animal Kingdom) - Satuli Canteen lunch, Narcossee's for dinner
Thursday (Hollywood Studios) - Cake Bake at 2pm for a special drink and shared dessert, Kona Cafe for dinner
Friday - Topolino's breakfast

Thumbs up! For 1900 Park Fare, I’d take a look at some recent buffet pictures and decide which menu is more exciting for your family. For dinner, maybe go early if you’re also doing fireworks pre-party.

 

[Dakota731]

CRT was a fun experience for our kids aged 5 and 8, and the food was actually better than I thought it would be. It was much nicer than the other character meals we had - Garden Grill, Tusker House or Crystal Palace!

 

[Pens Fan]

We are huge fans of Crew's Cup Lounge at the Yacht Club. The prime rib sliders are delicious. I don't think I could stay at Yacht Club and miss out on those.

 

[Marthasor]

I would love some advice or thoughts on our dining. This is a big trip for us, we usually only do Disneyland and likely won't be back for at least a few years. We enjoy fine dining and higher quality food. I know it is a Theme Park so I keep that in mind, but try and find the best options I've struggled reading reviews because so many say things have changed from pre to post covid.

We are staying at the Yacht Club, club level the first 2 nights so we will likely take advantage of the food available there as much as possible, but I'm wondering if we need to supplement with some quick service or appetizers somewhere if the evening snacks aren't enough for an actual meal. Then moving to the Grand Floridian for 6 nights.

Thursday - Epcot quick service to go along with the Club level offerings? We will be at Typhoon Lagoon during that day. Any recommendations?
Friday - Club level snacks and Beaches and Cream for dessert
Saturday (The one I really can't decide) - Boathouse or Cinderella Royal Table - I feel confident we would enjoy our meal at Boathouse, but I'm wondering if the experience at Cinderella Royal Table is worth it this once. My kids are both 9 and getting on the older end for Characters, but do still enjoy them. I'm a huge Disney fan and feel like it would be special to eat in the Castle this once, but does it justify the cost?? Plus people have said to avoid Disney Springs on a Saturday night.
Sunday (MK day) - Skipper Canteen for lunch and Wailulu for dinner
Monday (Epcot day) - Shiki Sai for dinner
Tuesday (resort day) - 1900 Park Fare for brunch, Dinner?, Fireworks Pre-Party
Wednesday (Animal Kingdom) - Satuli Canteen lunch, Narcossee's for dinner
Thursday (Hollywood Studios) - Cake Bake at 2pm for a special drink and shared dessert, Kona Cafe for dinner
Friday - Topolino's breakfast

Thank you to anyone willing to take the time to help!

I agree with PP who recommends the Swan/Dolphin lounges - love bluezoo. You could also consider Rosa Mexicana and just do apps - the guacamole is fantastic.

The food at CRT is not good, IMHO, but I would definitely consider eating there. It's so iconic!

I would probably do 1900 Park Fare for brunch. I wouldn't want to fill up on a dinner there and then go to the fireworks party.

If you are looking for higher end food, you may want to reconsider Kona. We've given it so many chances over the years and it's just not good, IMHO. Maybe consider Cali Grill to end your trip if you like finer dining?

 

[bcbmommy]

Flying Fish is our new favorite restaurant, to the point that my husband would probably go back to WDW just for that meal. We ate there twice last week, and ordered the char crusted strip steak both times. I don't usually order steaks at restaurants, because I have high standards in that area, lol. It was amazing!

 

[petrola]

I would love some advice or thoughts on our dining. This is a big trip for us, we usually only do Disneyland and likely won't be back for at least a few years. We enjoy fine dining and higher quality food. I know it is a Theme Park so I keep that in mind, but try and find the best options I've struggled reading reviews because so many say things have changed from pre to post covid.

We are staying at the Yacht Club, club level the first 2 nights so we will likely take advantage of the food available there as much as possible, but I'm wondering if we need to supplement with some quick service or appetizers somewhere if the evening snacks aren't enough for an actual meal. Then moving to the Grand Floridian for 6 nights.

Thursday - Epcot quick service to go along with the Club level offerings? We will be at Typhoon Lagoon during that day. Any recommendations?
Friday - Club level snacks and Beaches and Cream for dessert
Saturday (The one I really can't decide) - Boathouse or Cinderella Royal Table - I feel confident we would enjoy our meal at Boathouse, but I'm wondering if the experience at Cinderella Royal Table is worth it this once. My kids are both 9 and getting on the older end for Characters, but do still enjoy them. I'm a huge Disney fan and feel like it would be special to eat in the Castle this once, but does it justify the cost?? Plus people have said to avoid Disney Springs on a Saturday night.
Sunday (MK day) - Skipper Canteen for lunch and Wailulu for dinner
Monday (Epcot day) - Shiki Sai for dinner
Tuesday (resort day) - 1900 Park Fare for brunch, Dinner?, Fireworks Pre-Party
Wednesday (Animal Kingdom) - Satuli Canteen lunch, Narcossee's for dinner
Thursday (Hollywood Studios) - Cake Bake at 2pm for a special drink and shared dessert, Kona Cafe for dinner
Friday - Topolino's breakfast

Thank you to anyone willing to take the time to help!

wow! sounds like a great itinerary! ok, here are my two cents:

We've done club level before and while the food is fine for myself for dinner, not so for DH, DS and DD. So - since you will be right on the Boardwalk, I would recommend Flying Fish Cafe - at least one night. it is really good.

We never did Cinderella's Royal Table - so I cannot speak to that - but we did dine at Akershus for breakfast and my DD loved it! They do the parade with the princesses and she felt like one for sure!

We usually have lunch at Skipper Canteen - and it's always a hit. Keep it

I wouldn't necessarily do both 1900 Park Fare on the same day as Fireworks pre-party. You won't be remotely hungry at the party , not even for dessert.

Fireworks pre- Have done it - it's a one and done for us. Try Seats and Sweets - so much better than vying for a space on the lawn. Plus you will have to leave the dessert party to secure your spot on the lawn.

Narcossee's is a keeper. Also Citricos since you will be at Grand Floridian.

Cake Bake is a def yes! We had dinner there in April and can't say enough about it. Everyone enjoyed. I would rather that than Kona Cafe for dinner. It's not even close.

Topolino's breakfast is a definite yes.

nicely done - you have some great picks! enjoy your trip.